Disposable applicator pull cord type



Oct. 21, 1958 F. A. SENGER I 2,856,927

DISPOSABLE APPLICATOR' PULL CORD Filed April 11, 1957 INVENTOR Verge! 1 WM A. (ball ATTORNEY United States Patent DISPOSABLE APPLICATOR PULL CORD Frank A. Senger, Watchung, N. J., assiguor to Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application April 11, 1957, Serial No. 652,300

1 Claim. (Cl. 128-261) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in dispensers for pharmaceutical formulations in the nature of liquids, semi-liquids, and jellies, and particu larly relates to dispensers adapted to the application of pharmaceutical formulations into the vagina. The invention especially is concerned with a dispenser which is convenient and highly satisfactory in use and which is capable of being produced economically whereby the dispenser may be employed on a single occasion and immediately thereafter destroyed.

Heretofore it has been the practice to introduce viscous liquid or jelly-like pharmaceutical formulations which are used for the treatment of vaginal infections or for contraception into the vagina by means of an applicator which has been filled with a pharmaceutical formulation from a large supply-storage tube of the collapsible type. It has been customary to use the same applicator repeatedly, and on each occasion it is necessary to fit the supply tube to the applicator, collapse the supply tube so as to discharge therefrom into the applicator the desired amount of formulation. It isthen necessary to detach the supply tube from the applicator, close the supply tube and return it to the shelf. This procedure obviously has many disadvantages, among which is the mechanical unhandiness of the several above-mentioned manipulations.

A serious disadvantage of the above-described practice of the prior art entails re-use of the mechanical applicator. This disadvantage is readily appreciated in connection with instances where a vaginal infection is being treated since on each occasion the patient is subjected to the possibility of reinfection unless the applicator is adequately sterilized after each occasion of use. While adequate sterilization is entirely feasible and possible, it is a time consuming task; the trouble of doing so is objectionable. The combination of the applicator and a collapsible supply-storage tube containing the pharmaceutical composition to be introduced into the body cavity is bulky and not easily transportable; neither is the combination readily disposable when no longer to be used.

This invention seeks to overcome the disadvantages of the practices of the prior art by supplying a single-application dispenser, i. e., one adapted for use on only one occasion which, nevertheless, will provide all of the advantages of prior devices.

In providing a dispenser for immediate disposition after use the economic factor becomes paramount; such an article must possess many important characteristics and yet must be capable of being manufactured at a very low cost, objectively, of course, at the lowest possible cost. To overcome the disadvantages mentioned in preceding paragraphs, such a device must be capable of storing the pharmaceutical preparation over an extended period of time in a fashion such that the formulation will not be attacked by the atmosphere or by the materials of construction of the dispenser itself. Similarly, the construc- ,tion must be such that the water and alcohol content, or

other volatile content, of the pharmaceutical formulation does not escape'during the storage period between manufacture and use.

Further, such dispensers should be adapted to discharge substantially the entire content of the dispenser, leaving little or none in the dispenser; and further desirably, the device'should be capable of delivering the entire quantity to the desired point of application within the body cavity.

It is essential that applicators or dispensers of the type here under consideration embody the utmost in appeal to the user, and it is highly desirable that any objectionable features such as difliculty of actual application be entirely overcome; otherwise they are likely to be unacceptable even though eminently satisfactory mechanically speaking.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a dispenser by means of which a liquid, semi-liquid, or

jelly-like pharmaceutical composition may be neatly,

quickly, and conveniently dispensed into a body cavity.

Another object is to provide a dispenser of simple and inexpensive construction which may be manufactured readily in large quantities and which may be discarded economically after a single occasion of use.

Another further object of this invention is to provide a dispenser which in addition to providing means for applying pharmaceutical compositions also serves to provide a holder or container for the composition prior to its being dispensed.

'Still another object of this invention is to provide a dispenser of the class described, adapted to maintain its contents in a sterile and effective condition up to the time of use.

A further important object of this invention is to provide a dispenser of the class described which is not bulky and which is convenient to carry and use.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the following description and drawings, as well as in the appended claim.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the structure that is designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown in the drawings and that various changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described and illustrated herein within the scope of the claims which follow and without departing from the invention.

In the drawings,

Figure l is a perspective view of a tube, generally cylindrical, which for convenience in revealing interior parts, is illustrated as of transparent material showing the device in assembled relationship with the end closure for the dispensing end of the device removed.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation, partly in section,

taken in the line 2--2 of Figure 1 illustrating one empolyvinyl chloride; polystyrene and rubber, either natural or synthetic are suitable. Also, paper which has been rendered impervious to the atmosphere and to the tube contents, as by a coating of synthetic resinous material, may be employed. Various other suitable materials will occur to those skilled in the art when all the factors are taken into consideration, and the invention is not to be limited in this respect.

Tube 10 has a restricted and rounded end portion denoted by numeral 12 from which the contents are dispensed through a small orifice indicated by numeral 14.

Numeral 16 denotes a stopper or closure member which suitably may be of various materials, butyl rubber providing excellent sealing and inertnessto the formulations here under consideration.

Numeral 18 designates a piston member fitting within tube 10. and being easily slidable therein, but at the same time bearing firmly against the. walls of thetube so. asto render the piston efiective and prevent leakage to and from the tube contents. Here again, piston memberiitt may be. of any suitable inert material, polyethylene or butyl rubber being regarded as very satisfactory.

Extending between closure and piston 18-211151 fixed thereto respectively at opposite ends is a cord 28. Cord 20 is of such length that when it is pulled from thetube it will extend rearwardly over the tube to a-po'intatleast as far as end 24 of the tube, and-preferably for corn venience somewhat further, withoutdisturbing the con tents in the dispenser. Various materials are suitable for use ascord material. Obviously as are other parts of this device, cord Zitshould be inert, unaffected by the contents of this dispenser and should be suificien-tly strong to perform its intended function.- Nylon is a good example of a suitable material.

The material to be dispensed-is contained within the dispenser between piston 18 and orifice 14. The volumetric content of the dispenser maybe varied within wide limits since piston 18 may be positioned initially along the length'of the tube at any desired point and dispense various amounts of materials with the same de gree of facility, it being necessary only that cord 20 be lengthened sufficiently to permit manipulation of the device. in the described intended fashion;

In using a dispenser such as described herein having been prefilled at time of purchase with a suitable quantity of a desired formulation, closure 12 is withdrawn from orifice 14, and cord 20 is pulled from the interior of the tube for a distance about equal to or somewhat more than the length of the tube itself. The dispenser is then ready for use and is inserted into the body cavity to Whatever extent is required, stopper 16 with cord 20 attached thereto remaining outside the body cavity. With the dispenser in place it is then necessary only to continue pulling cord 20 from the tube which in turn will advance piston 18 upon the contents of the dispenser thereby expelling the contents of the dispenser.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of this invention, the device involves a minimum of working parts which in use certainly will present no mechanical difliculties and which may be manufactured and assembled on a very economical basis.

As indicated above, since the dispenser of this invention is intended to be prefilled by suitable factory methods for consumer use, and because of its simplicity of construction in permitting great economy in manufacture, the dispenser may be and is intended to be disposed of immediately.

It is desired to point out that one of the simple aspects of the dispenser. described herein which contributes markedly to production at low cost is the fact that a formed. plunger element for advancing piston 18 is not required.

Further, it is desired to bring attention to the very great simplicity oi the device described herein and the fact that once the dispenser is removed from an enclosing carton, it is ready for immediate use.

it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the principal objects of the invention have been accomplished and that numerous and various changes and modifications may bev made in the embodiments of the invention herein described and that the invention is capable of use and has advantages not specifically described herein; it will, therefore, be appreciated that the hereinm'ade dis closures are to be construed in the nature of illustration only and that the invention is to be limited or delineated only by the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A pharmaceutical package comprising a single-use ap'-' plicator" adapted to inject pharmaceutical formulations into body cavities; said applicator comprising an elongated generally cylindrical tube-having a reduced end portion, an orificein said reduced end portion, apiston member slidably positioned within said tube, a closure member for closing said orifice, a cord suificient in length to ex-- tend from the piston, through the orifice of said tube, and to a point outside the body when said applicator is in a desired position for dispensing within a body cavity, said cord being afliXedto and extending between said closure member and said piston member, and a pharmaceutical formulation in the space between said piston and said closuremember.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1'.468,152 Hem'street Sept. 18, 1923' 2,268,536 Seidler' Dec. 30, 1941 2,619,087 0c1as'sen- Nov. 25, 1952 

